Luke 16:19-31
[Jesus said:] 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.
The new Wendy’s, in Tiffin, opened this week. Since it opened, cars have been lined up for the drive-through all the way around the building whenever they’re open. Now, mind you, this new building is the same franchise, with the same staff, that was on the corner a block away. They closed the old one and opened this one in a spot that’s better for navigating the one-way streets. …and people are acting like they’re never had a Wendy’s sandwich before.
It’s human nature to seek greener pastures. We get bored with what we know, even when it’s wonderful. Like those folks flocking to the new Wendy’s, we’re always looking for the next big thing.
In today’s parable, Jesus has the main character beg Abraham to send someone back from the dead to save his family from their selfishness and greed. The rich man insists that the “regular stuff”, like the Law of Moses and the Prophets, aren’t interesting enough anymore. They need something new and different to get their attention. Send someone back from the dead to warn them. Yeah, that’ll do the trick…
But Jesus already knows that even sending someone back from the dead to warn them won’t get their attention. Nothing will ever be enough.
Prayer: Lord Jesus: Thank you for the gift of faith. It is enough. AMEN